Offside at Charge Down

[crashtackle]

Hi All,

What is the ruling if I charge the ball down in general play and a team mate in front of me plays it? I assume he would be blown for being off-side...

 

[Bullitt]

If you charge it down and he picks it up, then that's offside and comes back. However, if an opposition player then touches it mid-air, it's fair play and he can collect it.

 

[man007]

I think that when somebody charges down, all the players are on-side,it's open play.

 

[Bullitt]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_unio...ent/4204680.stm

 

[crashtackle]

Thanks for your comments...

So the rules states...

If a player is in front of a team-mate in possession of the ball, or in front of a team-mate who last played the ball, they will be offside if they:

# Actively try to play the ball

# Do not retreat within 10m of an opponent who is waiting for the ball

# Move towards the opponents or the place where the ball lands without first coming back onside

The referee will award a penalty at the place where the offence took place.

It doesn't specifically make mention of the charge down, so my next question would be is the player that made the charge down considered to have played the ball?